The City Didn't Make Me Fall (OHSHC)

Chapter 7: The Disaster of the Century

Tonight was so terrible! Hikaru was no where in sight, Mori and Honey haven't bothered to show up yet, and I'm standing here stuck in the middle of Tanaki and Kyoya because Éclair got whisked away by somebody to dance. Where's Kyoya's wife? Did she not come?

Kyoya's eyes were cold and calculating as he stared down Tamaki. "I think Kasumi would have a better time dancing with me first."

"Kyoya, there is an urgent matter I need to speak with Kasumi about, and I can do exactly that on the dance floor." Tamaki reaches out to take my hand.

He's talking about the note; I know he is. Before I left the coffee shop, I slid it across the table to him.

"Sorry, fine men, but this dance belongs to me." A sole arm snakes around my waist and leads me towards the dance floor. The voice was a dead give away as to who it was.

"Clovis! God, I didn't think you'd be able to come on such a short notice!" I had called him last night, begging for him to come to the party; I didn't think he would.

"I almost didn't, but based on the scene I walked in on, I'm glad I did." Clovis never told me he could speak Japanese, either.

Just as swiftly as he stole me from the dilemma I had gotten myself in, we began dancing. Clovis-in-a-suit was so different from Everyday-Clovis. At a moment like this, he was sophisticated, grown-up.

The song finished soon and we bowed to each other, like you were supposed to.

"Now, Kasumi, who is this Parisian cutie you managed to snag for a dance? Is he your boyfriend?" It was one of those reporters from a popular gossip mag.

"Clovis, here? My boyfriend? Oh, no! Of course not!" A small giggle erupted out of me, and a chuckle out of him.

"No, we've just been friends for quite a long time."

"Longer than Mr.Ootori and Mr.Suoh?"

"Almost. There's about a year in between our friendships."

"I was assuming that you were, based on the fact that you were generally ecstatic to be saved from the two of them."

I small giggle escapes me. "Tamaki and Kyoya, well, they were always the most argumentative pair of best friends. Ever. They never seemed to agree on anything. Nevertheless, Kyoya always seemed to come around to see Tamaki's way of going about."

And I ruined that, I thought to myself. They were best friends, and now their relationship will never be the same, and it's all my fault.

The reporter seemed to give me a genuinely nice smile. You don't often get those from reporters, especially not the men. "Could I manage to steal you away from the crowd for a quick interview?"

It was my turn to give him a nice smile. "Sure. Clovis, don't go too far, I'll be right back."

"As if." He snorts out with laughter and offers me his arm. "I'm coming with. I'll be as quiet as a mouth. I promise."

The reporter and I both stare at him blankly. I soon break into giggles, and the reporter follows. Clovis' cheeks burn slightly, not realizing the error he made.

"W-What?!"

"You mean mouse. Not mouth." I link my arm through his. "Don't worry, it was cute."

His cheeks burn more. "O-Okay..."

The reporter begins leading us out of the room, but somebody grabs my arm. Clovis and I begin turning towards the mysterious figure. It's Tamaki.

"Kasumi, I need to speak to you when you get back."

I simply nod and turn back to follow the reporter.

Clovis and I share a look. "The note?" He questions.

"The note." I confirm.

The interview with the reporter was good, and Clovis made another cute mistake with the words he used. It's cute because it makes him look vulnerable.

When we got back to to the party, it was a mess. Tamaki and Éclair were yelling at each other in the middle of the dance floor, and the gossip mags were soaking it all up.

"Tamaki! He kissed me, I swear!" She squealed, holding onto one of his arms.

He simply shrugs her off. "He is married and in love! Kaoru would never do such a thing! How dare you lie to me! Me, Eclair. Your boyfriend."

I was seething now. That bitch. It was my only thought. Ripping myself away from Clovis, I marched up and in the middle of the two of them.

"Somebody please explain to me what is going on." Even though I used my manners, my voice was forceful and demanding.

Éclair was first to step up. "Tamaki saw Kaoru kiss me."

I hold up my hand to stop her. "Say no more. You are lying."

Éclair's face lit up with rage. "I am not! How dare you say-"

"-Do you not work with Kaoru everyday? Do you not see his face when he talks about his wife? Do you not see his face when he sees his wife? Kaoru is truly in love with her. He's not going to throw that away for one measly kiss from you..."

A lot of our coworkers were now mumbling about Kaoru and his wife, defending his love. As I walks away, he pulls me into a hug.

"Thank you, Kasumi. Thank you so so much." He mumbled this to me, pulling me against him so my breathing was restricted.

"It's... no big deal..."

He lets me go, and I pull in the largest lungful of air I can manage. All of a sudden, the entire room goes silent.

"Éclair..." Tamaki begins, "we're through." And he simply walks away from her.

As she stood there in shock, Yuzuha approached her. There was a deadly glare on Yuzuha's face; a defending mother was what she was right. Maybe a tiny sliver of her was still business woman. "You dare victimize my son? In front of all his closest friends and colleagues? Starting tomorrow, you are suspended for two weeks. Don't bother showing back up to work without an attitude check."

Éclair scoffed and flew from the building like a bat out of hell.

Someone approaches me from behind and places their hand on my waist. When I looked up, my eyes met violet orbs. "Tamaki." My voice was breathy as I whispered out his name.

"Hello..." There was a strange glow in his eyes. Was it of happiness?

"Is something the matter, Tamaki?"

"Well, I just realized that if Éclairbis allowed to kiss anyone she wants, so am I."

A frown crosses my face. "Yes, I suppose it does..."

He turns me to face him. My heart begins beating rapidly. He meant me. He's going to kiss me.

Tamaki begins leaning in. What feels like centuries to me is really only seconds. Our lips connect before my mind truly registers what's going on.

His lips are soft and warm and they taste like honey. That's why it saddens me when I push him away. My hand immediately flies up to cover my mouth.

"I'm sorry, Tamaki... but I can't kiss you... no matter how badly I may want to, I can't..."

Tamaki's violet eyes show clear hurt as he looks into my own blue ones. "And why not?" A subtle amount of venom coats his words.

"Because it's not fair for me to kiss you," I begin, "when the other man with a piece of my heart cannot..." My eyes shoot to Kyoya for a brief second.

As the cameras of the press flash, and eyes from every direction watch me, I leave the party with my head held eye. The gossip mags that will be out on Monday are going to be one hell of a wild ride.